Cap.



A. LESSER.

CAP.

FILED DEO. 16, 1913.

APLIQATION Patnted May 19, 1914.

INVENTOR WITNESSES:

. Znnie Lesser.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANNIE LESSER, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

CAP.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ANNIE LEssER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Caps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in caps, and particularly to the flared top variety commonly worn by navy officers, policemen, or other persons in uniform.

The aim of the invention is to simplify the construction of these caps, render them more economical to manufacture, to strengthen them, and to increase their shape-retaining qualities.

Among the features of the invention may be mentioned, first, the provision of a readily detachable covering, whereby the cover may be removed as desired, either for washing or for substituting a different covering; second, an improved supporting frame for the cover, embodying obliquely positioned interwoven strips in such manner that they may be separated at their upper ends, thereby enabling the vframe to be blocked and the desired flare produced by virtue of said separated ends.

Features of the invention, other than those specified, will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction shown therein is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure l illustrates a side elevation of a cap embodying the present invention, a portion of the cover thereof being cut away to disclose the frame for retaining the outer cover in shape. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through one side ofthe cap shown in Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail elevation illustrating the weave of the frame and the manner in which the interwoven strips thereof may diverge toward the top of the hat to shape the same in the desired form. The line 2*.2 in this figure refers to Fig. 2, which shows how this weave appears in transverse section.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a cap of the type commonly worn by patrolmen, naval officers, and the like, said cap be- Specioation of Letters Patent.

Application led December 16, 1913.

Patented May 19, 1914. serial No. 806,970.

ing provided lat the front with a peak or vizor a. The hat is built on a frame C, blocked into the desired shape and formed of interwoven strips or bands of ratan or cane. These strips are woven on the bias, e., obliquely to the base of the cap, the strips c extending in one direction, and the strips c interwoven with the strips c and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the straps c.

In the manufacture of the cap, a blank embodying strips c c', interwoven as described, is provided, such blank being of such length as to allow the ends to be overlapped to forman annular ring substantially equal tothe size of the cap desired,

and is in breadth a trifle greater than the finished height of the cap. The ends of this blank are overlapped and sewed, or otherwise secured, together to form a ring, and the bottom of said ring is covered with a lbinding d, which issewed, or otherwise secured, to the same, to retain the blank against stretching. The blank is now blocked on a mandrel having a flaring top.

The blank, in the form of a ring, is forced Y upon the mandrel and it will, because of its bias weave, adapt itself to the contour of the mandrel. The mandrel being of greater circumference at the top than at the bottom, the strips c, c, etc., and the strips 0, c, etc., will slightly separate to make up these increased dimensions, after the manner of a collapsible gate. As the blank becomes larger at its top to conform to the mandrel,

such enlarging of the dimensions, circumferentially, causes the height of the blank to be correspondingly decreased, so that, when the blank is in final form upon said mandrel, it will have assumed the correct flare and height of the nished cap.

After the blocking and contemporaneous steaming of the blank have been performed, the blank is removed from the mandrel and the top edge thereof covered withV a binding d', for the purpose of retaining the same in shape. The frame is now finished, but, if desired, a coating of shellac may be applied to render it more durable. The frame formed as hereinbefore stated serves as a support for the remaining portions of the g or drill, and, in winter, to wear a cap of some heavier material of a darker color, and, for this reason, it is desirable that the cover be made detachable, so that itmay be changed from time to time for the purpose of cleaning. TVVith this in view, the cover of my hat is adapted to be slipped over the frame so as to tightly fit therearound, and means are provided whereby said cover may be readily removably attached thereto. This means is illustrated more particularly in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, as embodying a button F, provided with a threaded shank f, which cooperate with the threaded interior of a sleeve f provided at one end with a circumferential flange f2. The sleeve f is adapted to be inserted from the inside of the cap through an aperture in the frame, so that the flange f2 engages with the inner surface of said frame C, so as to preclude the shank from being pulled therethrough. If desired, the flange may be provided with apertures whereby it may be stitched to the frame. The cover E of the hat is provided with button-holes or apertures adapted t0 be brought into juxtaposition with the threaded interior of the sleeve f', whereby the threaded stem f of the button F may be inserted through the button-holes and turned into the interior of the sleeve f. The hat is preferably provided with a band G of suitable width, which passes about the frame exteriorly of the cover E, and conceals the free edge of the cover. This band is also provided with button-holes at the points of situation of the buttons F, so that4 said band may be positioned intermediate the head of the button and the exterior of the cover E. The vizor a is mounted on the frame in any suitable manner so that, when the band is in place, the hat presents a very neat and pleasant appearance.

From the foregoing description, it will be manifest that the cap embodies many novel and unique features, chief among which is the weaving of the strips composing the frame obliquely to the base of the cap. This oblique interweaving of the strips greatly facilitates the manufacture of the cap, in that it may be easily sewed, or otherwise formed, into an annular band, after which it may be readily blocked into the desired shape. Then once in shape and the upper binding CZ applied, the hat cannot lose its shape, and presents a strong, yet not too rigid, frame which is capable of withstanding hard usage for an extended period. A cap of this kind, under normal conditions, can well be worn several years before the peak becomes worn out.

It has been attempted heretofore to provide a cap of this general type by providing a frame composed of interwoven strips of material so arranged that the strips extend vertically and circumferentially of the hat.

This structure, however, embodies many disadvantages, in that it is, from a practical standpoint, impossible to carry the circu1nferent-ially extending strands of the weave to the top of the frame, for the reason that, if this were done, the frame could not be blocked into flaring form without occasioning the breaking of the circumferential strips positioned in the flaring portion. These hats have, therefore, been made with the circumferential weaving extending barely half way up the frame so that the vertical strips project more than half their extent above said circumferential strips, whereby the top portion of the hat, where its strength is most needed, is, in fact, very weak and fragile. It will thus be noted that, by weaving on the bias, applicant is enabled to produce a strong, comparatively rigid structure, from the base entirely to the top of the cap, thereby providing a frame over which a cover may be stretched without, in the least, bending the frame out of shape. Another distinct advantage is the removability of the cover, which, according to applicants invention, may be taken off and cleaned, or exchanged, at will. Moreover, the fact that the cap can be wholly dismantled allows it to be readily cleaned, and it is, therefore, sanitary in every sense. The application of the coat of shellac to the frame makes it impossible for perspiration to work through said frame and damage or stain the cover. In view of the fact that the component strips of the frame diverge upwardly, the frame is well ventilated, so that the cap is not warm and uncomfortable.

The increased stability of my improved cap greatly precludes the chance of breakage during shipment, as the frame has been found to withstand hard usage, e. g., that occasioned in shipping, without serious damage thereto.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a cap of the lclass specied, an annular frame formed from a single blank in height substantially equal to the height of the cap, said frame embodying a series of strips of cane positioned obliquely to the base of the frame, a second series of strips of cane positioned obliquely to the base of the frame and interwoven with the first series, the strips of each series diverging from the bottom to the top of the frame with the result that the frame is tightly woven at the bottom and loosely woven at the top, whereby the frame is flared toward the top thereof, and a covering for said frame.

2. In a cap of the class specified, an annular frame substantially equal in height to the height of the cap and embodying a series of strips of cane positioned obliquely to the base of the frame, a second series of passing through the frame and through the strips of cane positioned obliquely to the fabric cover for detachably retaining said base of the frame and interwoven with the cover in place. first series and extending substantially at In testimony whereof I have signed my 15 right angles thereto, the strips of each series name to this specification in the presence of iverging froom thle bfottom to ghe tgp of th tWo subscribing Witnesses.

rame Where y t e rame is are towar the top thereof, bindings at the top and bot- ANNIE LESSER' tom edges of the frame for precluding the unraveling of the strips, in combination With a fabric cover for the frame, and means Witnesses:

CORNELIUS ZABRISKIE, F. S. FITZSIMoNs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

